Helplessly Hoping

"Helplessly Hoping" is a 1969 song by the American folk rock group Crosby, Stills, and Nash, written purposefully in alliterative form by Stephen Stills. They recorded the song at Wally Heider's Studio 3, Hollywood in December 1968 during their first recording session as a group, with producer Paul Rothchild.[1][2] The song was first released by Atlantic Records on Crosby, Stills, and Nash's debut album Crosby, Stills & Nash on May 29, 1969.[3] In June 1969, they released it as the B-side of their debut single "Marrakesh Express".[4][2] The song was prominently featured in the 2018 Alex Garland film Annihilation.[5] The song was also featured briefly in the 2020 Naughty Dog game The Last of Us Part II with Joel playing the song on guitar.

"Helplessly Hoping"
Single by Crosby, Stills, and Nash
from the album Crosby, Stills & Nash
A-side"Marrakesh Express"
ReleasedJune 1969 (1969-06)
RecordedDecember 1968
StudioWally Heider's Studio 3
GenreFolk rock
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Stephen Stills
Producer(s)Paul Rothchild
Crosby, Stills, and Nash singles chronology
"Helplessly Hoping"
(1969)		 "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"
(1969)

The song is about two lovers, who don't know what to do in a psychological setting. There are word puns with the same letter of the alphabet, such as: "Helplessly Hoping", Wordlessly Waiting", and " Stand by the Stairwell". There are also number and word puns in the two choruses, which goes:

"They are One Person,/ They are Two Alone,/ They are Three Together,/ They are Four Each Other."

The play on three of the Chorus lines would go:.

"They are Too Alone,/ They are Free Together,/ They are For Each Other."

Personnel

References
  1. Hopkins, Jerry (April 5, 1969). "Crosby-Stills-Nash Wind Up Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  2. Deriso, Nick (February 23, 2018). "The Story of Crosby, Stills and Nash's 'Annihilation' Song". Ultimate Classic Rock. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  3. "Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  4. Planer, Lindsay. "Marrakesh Express - Crosby, Stills & Nash Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  5. "Annihilation Soundtrack". IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 23 April 2018.


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